Saban hires Bobby Williams as assistant coach

TUSCALOOSA | Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of Bobby Williams as tight ends coach/special teams coordinator on Friday. Williams joins Saban's coaching staff for the fourth time in his career. Williams and Saban have worked together in the college ranks at Michigan State and LSU as well as in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.

"Bobby Williams was the first guy I called when this position opened," said head coach Nick Saban. "I've coached with Bobby for a number of years and he is as good as there is in this business. Not only is he a great coach and a great teacher, but he is also an excellent recruiter and is very well respected by the players that he coaches. We are fortunate to have Coach Williams on our staff at the University of

Alabama and I know he will be an outstanding addition to our coaching staff."

Williams spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as the running backs coach with the Dolphins. He served as the associate head coach/wide receivers coach at LSU in 2004 after spending the 2003 season as the wide receivers coach with the Detroit Lions. He was the head coach at Michigan State from 2000-02, leading the Spartans to a pair of bowl victories. Williams was an assistant at MSU from 1990-99 before being named the Spartans' head coach in December of 1999.

"I'm very excited to be a part of the Alabama football program," said Williams. "The tradition, the history, and the passion here at Alabama are what college football is all about. Nick has put together a great staff and I'm looking forward to doing my part in helping to build a championship program here at Alabama."

A graduate of Purdue, Williams was a four-year letterman for the Boilermakers. He started his career at running back before moving to the secondary and starting in his final three seasons. A tri-captain as a senior in 1981, Williams was a part of three Purdue bowl teams as a player.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Williams and his wife, Sheila, have a daughter, Nataly, and a son, Nicholas.